Portable shelf for hearses.



R. s. MOORE.

PORTABLE SHELF FOR HEARSES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8, 1915.

l,l7,258, Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

WITNESSES H l/VVE/VTOR Jfi A15- Maore v5 /7 ga -3 rmy 3 THE. COLUMBIAFLANOGRAPH 1:04. WASHINGTON. D. c:

n'nirnn snares PATENT onmon.

ROBERT SHELDON MOORE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PORTABLE SHELF FOR Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

Application filed December 8, 1915. Serial N 0. 65,714.

- and has particular reference to such devices adapted to be used on orin connection with hearses.

In my experience as an undertaker, I find that there is much criticismand complaint respecting the handling of the flowers in connection withthe casket. Before introducing the casket into or removing it from thehearse the flowers must be handled and commonly are laid upon the groundin more or less disorder.

The primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide acollapsible and portable shelf adapted to be carried under the seat ofthe vehicle, or in any other convenient place and capable of beingquickly attached to a side of the hearse in position to receive theflowers temporarily while the casket is being handled. After the casketis placed and the flowers disposed of in the usual manner, the shelf isremoved from the supporting position and put away for subsequent use. 7

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists inthe arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described andclaimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact detailsof construction disclosed herein, still for the purpose of illustratinga practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same partsinthe several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of aconventional form of hearse showing my improve ment applied thereto;Fig. 2 is an inner edge view of the improved shelf; Fig. 3 is a bottomplan view of the same just after it has been opened, the supporting armsbeing shown in nested position in full lines and in supporting positionsin different characters of dotted lines; Fig. 4. is a verticaltransverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an outside edgeview of the device collapsed or folded; and Fig.- 6 is a trans? versesectional detail on the line 66 of Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I show at 10 a body ofa hearse hav ng vertical side columns 11 and 12. In various makes orstylesof hearses the number of columns on each side varies and alsotheir distance apart is by no means uniform. According tothe type ofhearse,'I apply to certain of the columns a pair of brackets 13indicated in this instance as being connected to the columns 11. Eachbracket comprises an upwardly projecting finger 13 and may be of anornamental nature, not disfiguring the vehicle in any manner.

The shelf in its preferred form comprises two parts 14 and 15 hingedtogether at their adjacent ends at 16, and provided at their other endswith suitable hasp devices 17 and 17 to hold them closed. Each part ofthe shelf comprises a rectangular frame and a panel 18, the panelconstituting the main supporting surface of the shelf. For the purposesfor which this device is intended the shelf structure may be made ofcomparatively light material.

Each of the parts 14 and 15 carries a sup porting arm 19 of a lengthslightly less than the length of the part and loosely pivoted at 20adjacent the outer end of the shelf. These arms may be made of tubularmetal and hence being possessed of the requisite strength for theirpurpose. The end of each arm opposite the pivot 20 constitutes a sleeve21 having its axis perpendicular to the axis of the arm and adapted toreceive one of the fingers 13 of a bracket 13 when the arms are swungoutwardly around their connections 20 as shown in Fig. 4E. .The inneredge of the rectangular frame portions of the shelf is notched out asindicated at 22 to accommodate the arms giving them a considerableamount of freedom of adjustment to accommodate the shelf to variouslengths or distances between supporting columns of the hearse. It is tobe under stood, however, that the scope of the claims of this patent isnot to be unnecessarily limited as to the particular length of saidnotches 22.

Fig. 3 indicates the arms in various positions of adjustment with theirsleeves 21 variously spaced. The arms 19, however, support the shelf atany points along the notches 22. hen the device is folded the arms maybe fastened 1 1 Place as shown n Fig. 3'by straps 23 or equivalenttemporary fasteners, and when so folded the device occupies acomparatively small amount of space and may be easily manipulated or putout of the Way.

I claim:

1. In a device of the nature set forth, the

combination of a shelf comprising two parts and hinges connecting themend to end, each part comprising a rectangular frame having an edgenotch, a pair of supporting arms pivoted to the frames on the insideopposite the notches and adapted to swing outwardly from the shelfalong'the notches, and means to support the arms.

2. The combination of a shelf, comprising a pair of rectangular framesand surface panels secured thereto, said frames being notched along oneedge, a pair of arms loosely pivoted at one end to the frames oppositethe notches, said arms being adapted to swing outwardly from the shelfand apply at any desired 1Epoints along said notches, the outer ends 0the arms being provided with sleeves having axes at right angles to thearms, and means cooperating \vith'the arms to supportthe same and theshelf, substantially as set forth.

ROBERT SHELDON MOORE.

Witnesses ALMERON M. l/VA D, PHILIP A. BILLINGS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. V

